Understanding where your facility’s energy situation is at is one of the most helpful investments you can make. When you have clarity on what systems are performing well and which ones would be the best to improve, your facility can quickly get into top shape. While getting an energy audit might be an easy decision, knowing which one you need might be a bit tougher of a decision.
Deciding whether you need a level 1 or level 2 audit can seem like a tough decision, but this guide will help you determine which is best for your facility. Learn more about the difference between a level 1 and a level 2 energy audit.
Why Energy Audit Levels Matter For Your Facility
Energy audits are often different for each facility. Some facilities need a basic understanding of current energy usage before making any decisions, while others already have a clearer idea of their energy issues and need more detailed analysis before moving toward a project. That’s why Quandel Energy Solutions offers multiple levels of energy audits for commercial and municipal facilities. We want each facility to get the best insights and opportunities for improvement that lead to noticeable improvements in the long term.
What Is a Level 1 Energy Audit Used for?
If your facility knows that your energy isn’t where it should be but the underlying cause is not apparent, a Level 1 Energy Audit is often the best place to start. With this audit, your team gets an overview of the energy consumption and possible areas of obvious inefficiencies.
A Level 1 audit typically includes a facility walkthrough, a review of utility consumption, and a preliminary assessment of major energy-consuming systems. The idea with the Level 1 audit is to get a practical baseline so your team can see where things stand before planning your next improvement project.
For many commercial, industrial, manufacturing, and municipal facilities, a Level 1 Energy Audit is the right first step to eliminate guesswork and get a clearer picture of current energy performance.
What Is A Level 2 Energy Audit Used For?
Level 2 Energy Audits are more detailed than Level 1 Energy Audits. This level of audit is typically used when a facility already knows that there are concerns with their energy, and they want to pinpoint it down to one or a few culprits.
This more advanced can be more targeted on specific building systems, energy conservation opportunities, potential costs, and projected savings. This makes it useful to facilities further down the decision-making line. If a Level 1 audit reveals that certain systems require more attention, a Level 2 Energy Audit may be the next step. This provides facility leaders with more detailed information before advancing to capital planning, utility reduction work, or performance contracting.
The Main Difference Between A Level 1 And Level 2 Energy Audit
Level 1 and Level 2 Energy Audits are really set apart by one key difference. A Level 1 audit will help you determine where to start, while a Level 2 audit will help you take a closer look at specific opportunities once you have some preliminary understanding.
Use a Level 1 audit if your facility needs an initial baseline of your energy situation. Use a Level 2 audit when your facility is more detailed or you want specific information on optimizations you can make. If your team is still scratching their heads over where the energy problem is coming from, Level 1 is usually the smarter first move. If your team has specific systems or upgrades in mind, you may want to consider Level 2.
Talk To Quandel About Choosing The Right Energy Audit For Your Facility
Not sure if your facility requires a Level 1 or Level 2 audit? Quandel Energy Solutions helps commercial, municipal, and other facilities improve their energy usage to save money and improve productivity. To learn more about your facility’s energy and start making strides towards improvement with energy consulting, utility reduction systems, energy performance contracting, or just an initial Level 1 Energy Audit, contact Quandel Energy Solutions today.
